Key-belt



Sept, 13, 1966 E. REISMAN 3,272,410

KEY-BELT Filed Aug. 28, 1964 INVENTOR- J ae/c Pas/-14 w MP/4M4 ATTOQMSYUnited States Patent 3,272,410 KEY-BELT Emeric Reisman, 1606 47th St.,Brooklyn, NY. Filed Aug. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 392,701 2 Claims. (631. 224)This invention relates to belts, and in particular to buckleconstructions for belts.

Belts Worn around the waist are generally provided with buckleconstructions which, although they may differ in details of mechanicalstructure and esthetic design from one belt to the next, neverthelesshave but one utilitarian function, to wit, to fasten the opposite endsof the respective belts to one another.

It is a principal object of the present invention, therefore, to providea novel class of belts characterized by buckle constructions possessedof at least one other utilitarian function besides the standardbelt-fastening function.

One of the foundations of the present invention is the recognition thatthe tendency of people frequently to forget or lose such items as keys,watches and the like may turn out to be a source of both embarrassmentand inconvenience, since ordinarily no replacements for these items willbe readily at hand.

A particular object of the present invention, consequently, is theprovision of a novel type of belt characterized by a buckle constructionhaving a key incorporated therein.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such beltswhich are adapted for adjustment to accommodate key bits of differentlengths.

Similarly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a noveltype of belt characterized by a buckle construction having a watchincorporated therein.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description thereof when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a belt characterizedby a buckle construction according to one aspect of the presentinvention, the buckle being shown in opened condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the belt shown in FIG.1, with the buckle in its closed condition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side edge view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the buckleconstruction of the belt shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a belt characterizedby a buckle construction according to another aspect of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side edge view of the structure shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now first to FIGS. 1 to 4, the belt 10 there shown is extendedat its opposite end regions through a pair of rigid loop members 11 and12 and folded back along itself, as shown at 10a and 10b, thefolded-back portions being secured at their respective extremities tothe back plates 13 and 14 of a pair of auxiliary adjustment buckleshaving respective clamping members 15 and 16 pivoted to said backplates. Since the main reach of the strip of which the belt is madepasses through the two spaces defined between the respective back plates13 and 14 and their associated clamping members 15 and 16, both of thesebuckles may be employed for adjustment of the overall length of thebelt. The buckle 14-16, however, is principally intended for a differentfunction which 3,272,410 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 will be more fullycomprehended as the description proceeds.

The loop member 11 at that portion thereof not enfolded by the belt1010a supports a mounting plate 17 in the form of a short strip of rigidmetal one end 17a of which is bent or crimped about the outer portion ofthe loop member so as to prevent its becoming separated therefrom, and,if desired, with sufficient clearance to permit some angular movementtherebetween. The other end of the mounting plate is bent into a curvedhook, as shown at 17b, adapted to be passed through the loop member 12and about that portion thereof not enfolded by the belt 10-10b. In thismanner, therefore, the two ends of the belt may be attached to eachother. The loop members 11 and 12 and the interconnecting member17-17a-17b thus are seen to constitute that portion of the main buckleconstruction designed for the primary function thereof, to wit theopening and closing of the belt.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the main buckleconstruction for the belt '10 also comprises a key 18 which is securedto the mounting plate 17 by means of a screw, bolt 01' like fastener 19passing through the hole in the head of the key and through acorresponding hole in the central web of the mounting plate. This holemay be internally threaded, thereby permitting the screw 19 to bedirectly screwed .into the plate 17. Alternatively, of course, the holein the plate 17 need not be tapped, in which case the screw would besecured to the plate with the aid of a nut (not shown).

It will, of course, be clear to those skilled in the art that when themain buckle, according to this embodiment of the invention, is closed byhooking the mounting plate end portion 17b over the loop member 12, thebit 18a of the key 18, not being curved, may not follow the contours ofthe wearers waistline, depending on the location of the buckle, and thusmay tend to extend angularly away from the body of the wearer. Thispossibility is avoided by virtue of the presence of the second auxiliaryadjustment buckle 1416 which is so adjusted (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that thefree end or tip of the bit 18a of the key 18 can be inserted under theadjacent edge of the clamping member 16. In this manner, when the beltis being worn, the key is constrained to lie flat thereagainst, whichenhances the esthetic appearance of the belt while at the same time thechance of the wearer being accidentally injured by the key projectingfrom the belt is substantially eliminated.

A belt of this type, with the key 18 being the house key of the wearer,for example, will be readily appreciated to be a most helpful accessoryfor any persons who might otherwise at some time find themselves in theembarrassing or annoying position of having lost or forgotten or mislaidtheir house keys. Since the key 18 is effectively a permanent part ofthe belt of the wearer, its chance of being lost or forgotten ispractically nil and in any case no greater than the chance of the wearerlosing or forgetting to don the belt itself. The main belt buckleconstruction according to this embodiment of the present invention thusalso serves as a non-fastening function, to wit, the retention of thekey in such a manner and in such a location that it is alwaysimmediately available for use and, for all practical purposes, cannot belost or mislaid once the belt has. been put on.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in accordance with another aspect of thepresent invention, the main belt buckle comprises a mounting plate 20one end 20a of which is bent or crimped about the outer portion of theloop member 11' and the other end of which is bent into the form of ahook 20b adapted to be passed through the other loop member 12' of thebelt. The non-fastening function of the main buckle is in this caseprovided by a watch or like time piece 21, the casing of which issecured in any suitable manner to the mounting plate 20. A belt of thistype may serve either as a decorative accessory or as a necessaryadjunct to the garb of a person unwilling or unable to wear a WristWatch.

Belts having multiple function buckle constructions according to thepresent invention may, of course, be made of any suitable materials,such as leather, fabric, elastic and non-elastic webbings, syntheticplastic sheet materials, etc. As will be apparent, in any belt Whichlacks the length adjusting feature 1345, the fastening parts of thebuckle construction may be secured directly to the end regions of thebelt. Also, in any key-equipped belt which lacks the specific adjustingfeature 14-46 another type of corresponding adjustable member forconstraining engagement with the key bit may be provided. Quiteobviously, the principles of the present invention are applicable tobelts for both male and female adults as well as children.

It Will be understood that the foregoing description of preferredembodiments of the present invention has been made for purposes ofillustration only, and that the several structural features andrelationships disclosed may be modified in various ways none of whichinvolves a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A belt, comprising an elongated strip and a main buckle constructionat the opposite end regions of said strip, said main buckle constructioncomprising a mounting plate secured at one end to one of said endregions of said strip and having fastening means at its other end forreleasable engagement with the other end region of said strip, a keysecured to said mounting plate in such position that the bit thereofextends over said other end region of said strip upon engagement of saidfastening means with the latter, and retaining means adjustablyconnected with said other end region of said strip in spaced relation tothe point of engagement between said fastening means and said other endregion of said strip, said retaining means being engageable with saidbit of 4 said key to constraintbe same to lie flush against said one endregion of said strip.

2. A belt, comprising an elongated strip, a pair of rigid loop members,said strip at the opposite end regions thereof being passed through saidloop members, respectively, and folded back over itself, a firstclamping buckle connected with the first folded-over portion of saidstrip defined by passage of the latter through one of said loop membersand releasably engageable with the adjacent part of the main reach ofsaid strip for adjusting the overall length of the belt, a mountingplate secured at one end to said one loop member and having a hook atits other end for releasable engagement with the other of said loopmembers, a key secured to said mounting plate in such position that thebit of said key extends over said other loop member upon engagement ofsaid hook With the latter, and a second clamping buckle connected withthe second folded-over portion of said strip defined by passage of thelatter through said other loop member and releasably engageable with theadjacent part of the main reach of said strip for adjusting the beltportion from said other loop member to said second clamping buckle to alength slightly less than the length of said key bit, whereby the tipregion of the latter may be confined by said second clamping buckle toconstrain said key to lie flush against said belt portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,968 7/1921Perry et a1 2245 X 1,459,750 6/ 1923 Schreiber 2--321 X 1,588,172 6/1926Crocker 24201 1,599,920 9/ 1926 Pryor 224-201 2,078,293 4/1937 Smith etal.

2,540,522 2/ 1951 Homerin 63-3 2,597,170 5/ 1952 Oldal 224-26 2,827,2143/1958 Lutz 224-5 3,115,288 12/1963 Aszkenas 224-5 X HUGO O. SCHULZ,Primary Examiner.

1. A BELT, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRIP,AND A MAIN BUCKLE CONSTRUCTIONAT THE OPPOSITE END REGIONS OF SAID STRIP, SAID MAIN BUCKLE CONSTRUCTIONCOMPRISING A MOUNTING PLATE SECURED AT ONE END TO ONE OF SAID ENDREGIONS OF SAID STRIP AND HAVING FASTENING MEANS AT ITS OTHER END FORRELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER END REGION OF SAID STRIP, A KEYSECURED TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE IN SUCH POSITION THAT THE BIT THEREOFEXTENDS OVER SAID OTHER END REGION OF SAID STRIP UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAIDFASTENING MEANS WITH THE LATTER, AND RETAINING MEANS ADJUSTABLY